Current Cancer Drug Targets - Current Issue

Opioids are widely used for pain management in breast cancer patients; however, their influence on tumor progression and recurrence remains controversial. Opioid receptors-mu (MOR), delta (DOR), and kappa (KOR)-play diverse roles in cancer biology, modulating tumor growth, immune responses, and angiogenesis. MOR activation is associated with increased proliferation, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), and immunosuppression, contributing to an aggressive tumor phenotype. Conversely, KOR exhibits tumor-suppressive properties, reducing angiogenesis via VEGF inhibition. Emerging preclinical evidence suggests that opioids, particularly morphine, may facilitate breast cancer progression by enhancing cancer cell migration, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. Genetic variations in opioid receptor pathways, such as the OPRM1 A118G polymorphism, further complicate the opioid-cancer relationship, demonstrating population-dependent effects on patient outcomes. In contrast, tramadol has shown potential immune-protective effects by preserving Natural Killer (NK) cell function and inhibiting adrenergic signaling; fentanyl and sufentanil exhibit variable impacts on tumor biology, necessitating further investigation. Clinical studies, however, remain inconclusive regarding opioids' direct contribution to breast cancer recurrence, highlighting the need for targeted research. Opioid-sparing analgesic strategies, including multimodal pain management, regional anesthesia, and immunomodulatory agents, offer promising alternatives to mitigate potential oncogenic risks while ensuring adequate pain relief. Future studies integrating single-cell transcriptomics and tumor microenvironment analyses will be critical in elucidating the molecular impact of opioids in breast cancer. Personalized pain management approaches tailored to genetic and clinical profiles may optimize oncological outcomes while preserving analgesic efficacy.

A ring-stabilized endogenous non-coding RNA is called circular RNA (circRNA). Intercellular communication is mediated by exosomes, and circRNA is enriched and stabilized in exosomes. It has recently been demonstrated that cancer cells and tissues exhibit abnormal expression of exosomal circRNAs. By controlling angiogenesis, metabolism, metastasis, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), tumor chemoresistance, immune evasion, and cell proliferation, it may also have an impact on the development of different malignancies. Furthermore, exosomal circRNAs have strong tissue selectivity, stability, and other qualities that make them useful for diagnostic purposes. Consequently, exosomal circRNAs offer a wide range of potential applications in the therapy of cancer and can be utilized as biomarkers and anti-tumor targets. The features and purposes of circRNAs and exosomes are briefly discussed in this review, which also methodically explains the function and possible mechanism of the function of exosomal circRNA in the onset of gastric cancer (GC). Furthermore, their clinical uses as targets and biomarkers for gastric cancers are also summarized and discussed in this work.

The adverse outcome that patients experience as a result of anti-cancer therapy failure is primarily caused by metastasis. Making cancer a chronic disease with regular but controlled relapses is the real issue in increasing cancer patient lifespans. This can only be achieved by developing efficient therapeutic techniques that target critical targets in the metastatic process. New targeted therapy medications continue to emerge, and research into the molecular targeted therapy of tumors is flourishing. The ineffectiveness of conventional chemotherapy in targeting metastatic cells is primarily due to its ability to promote the selection of chemo-resistant cell populations that engage in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which in turn encourages the colonization of distant sites and maintains the initial metastatic process. In considering this circumstance, research into a broad range of small molecules and biologics has been initiated to develop anti-metastatic medications that target particular targets implicated in the different stages of metastasis. With their ability to concentrate on cancer cells while avoiding normal cells, targeted medications offer a promising alternative to conventional chemotherapy that is both highly effective and relatively safe. Many obstacles, including an inadequate response rate and drug resistance, persist for small-molecule targeted anti-cancer medications, despite significant advancements in this area. We encouraged small-molecule-focused anti-cancer therapy development by extensively assessing them by target classification. We reviewed current challenges, listed licenced drugs and key drug candidates in clinical trials for each target, and made suggestions for improving anti-cancer drug research and development. This review aims to discuss present and future small molecule inhibitor research and development for cancer treatment.

Cancer is the second most common cause of death worldwide and one of the biggest public health issues arising day by day. Cancer treatment has experienced significant progressions in recent years, as emerging technologies have provided innovative strategies to combat this intricate ailment. Among these developments, nanotechnology has shown itself to be a potentially useful tool in the fight against cancer. In the last few years, there have been several researches performed in the field of nanoparticles because of their several advantages as compared to conventional drug delivery using nanoparticles along with updating technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). The use of nanoparticles decreases the chance of undesirable side effects and shows its action on the targeted site with the help of designed carriers.AI based nanoparticles can’t only be used for achieving the targeted site of action but can also help us in advanced imaging, drug release and optimizing the drug delivery in a more customized way, which opens the door of a new era for tailored made medicine.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is characterized by unmanaged cell proliferation and growth, leading to tumour formation with the potential to metastasize to various organs of the human body. Currently, several common therapeutic approaches exist to treat malignancies, including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy, which can be used to prevent the progression of malignancies. However, these therapeutic approaches often face challenges due to their cytotoxic impacts and various side effects. Ergo is currently researching a new treatment that effectively reduces cancer progression with minimal side effects. Emerging evidence suggests that harnessing herbal sources, which are both accessible and safe, can be useful in improving various disorders, including cancer. Oridonin, a diterpenoid isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Rabdosia rubescens, has shown significant potential in cancer therapy. Moreover, numerous pharmacological and biological capacities have been attributed to this naturally active compound, such as anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral influences. This review summarizes the current knowledge on oridonin's mechanisms of action, particularly its effects on autophagy and apoptosis. While apoptosis is a well-established pathway for eliminating cancer cells through DNA fragmentation, autophagy plays a complex role, acting as both a cytoprotective and cell death mechanism depending on the context. We provide a comprehensive evaluation of the relevant studies, highlighting oridonin's potential in cancer control and identifying areas for further research.

Cancer stands as one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and lung cancer represents its most aggressive and persistent form. Traditional strategies for addressing lung cancer involve various medical therapies such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical excision. Despite their prevalence, these conventional methods lack precision and inadvertently cause collateral damage to neighbouring healthy cells. Recently, nanotechnology has emerged as a potential strategy for the treatment and management of lung carcinomas, bringing about a transformative shift in existing approaches. The primary focus of this shift is on minimizing harmful effects and improving the bioavailability of chemotherapy drugs specifically targeted at tumour cells. Currently, transferosome nanocarrier systems are widely employed to overcome the obstacles presented by lung cancer. The utilisation of transferosome-loaded therapeutic medication administration technologies holds tremendous potential in regulating tumour cell growth and treating lung cancer. The purpose of this study is to provide an overview and analysis of current advancements in transferosome-based drug delivery systems, employing inhalational nanoparticle strategies for precise drug targeting in lung cancer management.